Cambridge

Last year, I had a couple come in from Pennsylvania to get gay married.
I picked them up at their hotel in the morning and brought them to
Cambridge City Hall to apply for their license. After that, we all went
to apply for "marriage without delay" at the courthouse, and when that
was granted, we returned to City Hall to pick up their license.

All the while, I heard great stories about their families, their jobs and the adorable story of how they met...

But, the best part of the day (I think we'd all agree) was when we were in Cambridge City Hall, license in hand, with the Honorable Denise Simmons
(Justice of the Peace and Mayor of the City of Cambridge). She
officiated a beautiful, simple ceremony in her office and at the
conclusion of the ceremony, presented my clients a felt bag. Inside the
bag was a key to the City of Cambridge.

Imagine the reaction of these two guys! They were elated! They were two
African-American men in their 40s and Ms. Simmons is the only
openly-lesbian African-American mayor of a city in the US, handing them
a key to her city. I didn't know it was coming - but what a pleasant
surprise for all of us! I've worked with Ms. Simmons a number of other
times and she always does a wonderful job but that was particularly
special.

Yet another reason I often take my clients to Cambridge. The main reason is that Cambridge was the first city in the US to legally issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, beginning at 12 midnight on May 17, 2004.

I feel by taking my clients to Cambridge, not only am I supporting that
decision but I'm treating them to a little piece of GLBT history.